Palomar01

This Saturday I attempted to ride this route that took me on a very long canyon road in southern California. The road is called Santiago Canyon road. The route is challenging because there are a few long climbs and my return route culminated in another long climb back to the start of Santiago canyon road, before heading back home. Saturday just happened to have the highest temperatures so far this year--about 95 degress if I'm not mistaken. I began the ride at 4PM and the temps were still in the 90's! I brought two large water bottles. Unfortunately, to get to the canyon road I still needed to ride 7.5 miles from my house, which included two climbs and one of them was a long one! I tried to take it easy on those initial climbs but the heat was taking its toll on me.

At the beginning of Santiago Canyon, the road begins a very gradual climb that is really a false flat. At that point I was already struggling! It surprised me because the last time I was there I breezed through it. I had no power in my legs and my heartrate was up. By the time I began the first climb on the canyon road I had consumed a full water bottle and I wasn't even halfway! The heat was tremendous and I was down to a slow crawl of around 7 mph.

Luckily, I came to my senses and decided to turn around and head back home. I was defeated! I guess it could have been worse! I could have run out of drinking water, dehydrated, and would have had to call the wife to get rescued!

I did the ride again today and came away successful. This time, I did the ride early in the morning before the the temps soared. I completed the ride: 45 miles round trip with lots of climbing and very fast cruising in the flats. Oh and I had to refill my water bottles around the halfway mark. Down in the canyon I got attacked by a giant bug that refused to leave me alone. I finally slapped the f**ker out of the way. Unfortunately, another bug decided to hit me in the canyon area while I was cruising along at 20+ mph. This time a bee went into my shirt and stung me! I had to squeeze the bastard and kill it while trying to stop from the high speed cruise! After finishing Santiago, I turned back home via another road that had a long climb That last climb was a long one and I was on the lowest gear just grinding away as my legs were getting tired and threatening to cramp up. The temps were still high up there, around 89 degrees! I had to stop in a shade near my house to cool off and have a Clif Bar.

It was a great 4th of July!

garciawork

Yeah, I usually won't ride in the heat, but I didn't feel like getting up early today, and ended up with some free time this afternoon, so I decided to go for it. 95 when I left, only did 21 miles with no climbs, but I'm glad I went! Nearly emptied my 100oz camelbak in the process... I want the 70's and 80's back!

DGozinya

Try freezing a regular Ice Mountain type bottle of water beforehand. Carry that bottle in the center pocket of your jersey. It cools you and by the time it is melted, you're ready for another drink!

sakonnetclip

More water. Heck I'll go through two big bottles an hour when it's 75.

blknyt

I know the route very well. I live about a mile from Santiago Canyon College and love that loop that includes Bake/Irvine Blvd/Jamboree. I commend you for even attempting it on Saturday afternoon. It was so hot in the pm that I just rode my motorcycle to Cooks and came back. It was like a blast furnace.....

Beaker

I always hate getting hit in the canyon area.

llamont

I live in Pasadena and I did a micro 10 mile loop of pasadena, sierra madre, and arcadia this morning. Although the route is very mellow, the heat was something else. I'll second garciawork's sentiment in that I'm happy I went for my ride though

Carbon Unit

I did a ride on Saturday with BCI and the Oange County Wheelman. It was 90 degrees when we finish the ride. I drank 3 bottles of water in 35 miles. It was damn hot but it was a great ride through through Shady Canyon and along PCH and the around the Back Bay. Between the two clubs there must of been 200 people on the ride. At the conclusion of the ride we had a bike swap meet and picnic. It was a great start to to the fourth of July weekend.

jmX

Hah, alright, I'm in before the millions of people from the south come in here to have a good chuckle.

The weather was great this weekend in the OC! Apparently people here don't know how nice they have it.

Jon <- Texan, transpanted to the OC

therhodeo

You poor poor thing.

pallen

Yeah, we did 50mi Sat. We didnt leave until 9:45 or so. For most of the day it was over 100. We were not fast though, and I was dead at the end.

robbyrocks12345

I live in Copper Harbor Michigan so...

Garfield Cat

What's the better ride? From El Toro Road or from Newport Beach to University Drive, to Harvard, to Tustin Ranch Road, to Jamboree to Santiago Canyon Road?

Or is there a better loop that combines both ends without making it a metric century?

wfrogge

HTFU... I had a 4 hour ride in the 100s on sat/sun and a 1 hour crit yesterday with an average temp of 102

Palomar01

From Huntington Beach you really have to do the mileage to get to Santiago Canyon.

The loop I did (and many others do a similar loop) is around 40 miles. Mine was actually 40+7 because I ride out of my house. I good loop if you are coming from another area is to shuttle your bike to the beginning of Santiago Canyon (corner of El Toro Road and Marguarite Parkway). There is a small area to park your vehicle in the shade. From there, ride across Santiago Canyon, left at Jamboree Road, Left at Portola Parkway, right on Portola Hills, right on Mojeska Canyon, Left on Irvine Blvd, Left on Bake Parkway, right on Portola Parkway, left on El Toro back to your start point. That would be around 40 miles. That's a good loop because there is a nice, long climb up Bake Parkway towards the end so it really tests your endurance and climbing ability. Yet, there is a nice cool down as you return to your starting point.

Palomar01

Haha! We know how good we have it. Why do you think we tolerate the high prices and the traffic?

Palomar01

I love the Newport Backbay loop. It's about 50 miles from my house and it takes me across the flat and fast Irvine. Lots of cyclists and runners. It's always a fun ride.

Palomar01

You're just jealous.

DropDeadFred

the 100 degree weather here is killing my mood to ride...I'm going to try and ride super early and late twice a day to make up for my longer rides im now not able to do.

therhodeo

Of having the luxury to whine about it being in the :gasp: high 80's?? It was 99 degrees at midnight one day last week here. We've had 11 of the past 12 days over 100.

aprevo15

It was hot over the weekend here in california. Really hot. I wonder how people in Arizona ride in the 110 degrees weather.

GP

It was at least in the 90s in the Temecula-Fallbrook-Valley Center area. I prefer the heat inland rather than the crowds on the coast.

bigbadwullf

Try riding in the hot AND HUMID South

BlueWilier

Classic!

ravenmore

This.

I've had several 105+ degree rides recently. Arizona at 115 is more comfortable because of the low humidity.